AstraZeneca has signed a deal worth up to US$555 million with Algen Biotechnologies, a San Francisco-based biotech company using AI for drug discovery.

The agreement grants AstraZeneca exclusive rights to develop and commercialize therapies using Algen’s CRISPR gene-editing technology, which originated from Jennifer Doudna’s Berkeley lab.

Algen will receive milestone payments, but AstraZeneca will not take an equity stake in the company.

The collaboration will focus on developing therapies for immune system diseases, adding to AstraZeneca’s growing list of AI-driven partnerships, including its ongoing work with BenevolentAI.

Experts say AI’s role in early-stage drug discovery is promising but still limited, as few AI-developed drugs have advanced to late-stage trials or regulatory approval.

🔗 Source: Reuters